Page 12 of Crosshairs

He’d made fun of her clumsiness hundreds of times, but somehow it sounded different this time. More of a simple statement instead of ridicule.

“It’s a talent. And thank you. That was a difficult case.” It was the reason she’d booked a cruise—she needed to decompress.

“You seem to have done well with the park service.”

“I like it.”

An “I’m proud of you” or “Good job” or “I was wrong when I questioned your sanity when you chose the park service” would be nice right about now. But he hadn’t changedthatmuch. She relieved him of her arm and nodded toward her car. “I’m over here.” She turned to face him and flinched under his intense gaze.

“Well, it was good to see you. Don’t be such a stranger to Natchez.” He looked away, then turned back to her. “I’m sure Mom’s told you I’m having a fund-raiser tomorrow night at the house, and I’d appreciate it if you were there. She’ll be in attendance ... Cora had planned to come.”

Actually Gran hadn’t mentioned his fund-raiser. Ainsley calculated how long it would take to get the CT report back—an hour?

“Did you hear me?”

“I’m sorry, I was thinking about Cora.” Ainsley swallowed. “Um, sure, I’ll come.”

“Don’t get so excited.”

She tempered her anger. “I’m sorry, but Cora is having a scan that will determine if she has to have surgery, and I’m about to start an investigation into the murder of a teenaged girl. Forgive me if your bid to be governor gets pushed back a little.” So much for tempering her anger, but now she was on a roll. “And when did you ever show up for anything for me? Like my high school graduation.”

His face turned splotchy red and then a mask clicked into place, smoothing his features. “Really, Ainsley?” His blue eyes so much like her own pinned her. “That was a low blow. I was out of the country when you graduated, and besides, your grandmother and great-aunt were there.”

She crossed her arms and immediately uncrossed them, not wanting him to interpret the move as defensive. Why she ever argued with her father, she’d never know. She couldn’t win. In hiseyes, he simply never did anything wrong. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”

For a minute he said nothing, then his shoulders relaxed. “No, I probably had it coming, and you don’t need to apologize.”

“Then you shouldn’t have left me to be raised by your mother,” she said sharply. “Her first rule is to apologize for any hurt you’ve caused.” Although that rule certainly hadn’t taken with him.

He sighed. “Do we always have to argue?”

She let his question go unanswered as she stared at her feet.

Another sigh, this one louder. “Well, I have to be on my way. It was good to see you.”

She raised her head in time to catch his smile. He’d already switched into the suave political candidate. “You too. See you tomorrow.”

He turned to walk away, then stopped. “Oh, Cora mentioned something about diaries the last time I talked to her,” he said. “Do you know where they are?”

Cora had talked about diaries last night before they brought her to the hospital. “Did you go to see Cora last night?”

“What? Of course not.”

“Someone was there. The carpet around her desk was wet, like someone had stood there, looking for something.”

“Wasn’t me. I was with my campaign manager until the storm hit. Your job isn’t making you see a crime around every corner, is it?”

“No. There were signs of a break-in and her carpet was wet, and since the library is on the first floor, it wasn’t from a leaky roof.”

He stared at her a minute. “Did you see the diaries?”

“No. When did you discuss the diaries with her?” Ainsley didn’t like the thought that just crossed her mind.

He shrugged. “Probably every time I’ve talked with her lately. Forget I asked. I’ll ask her when I return from Jackson.” Her dad fobbed the door locks on his Lexus and without looking back, climbed in and drove away.

She’d thought for a minute he’d changed, but nothing everreally changed with him. He could be as charming as all get-out when he wanted to ... or had something to gain, like her showing up tomorrow night. Her conscience poked her. That hadn’t been exactly true today—he’d been different, softer, at least a little bit.

She checked her watch. Cora could be back from her CT scan. Pocketing her keys, she hurried back inside and was pleased when her aunt was in her room. “That didn’t take long,” she said.

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